Notebooks

Story: The Mantis and |kwammana visit the Dassie's house

Title

Collection

Summary

The Mantis and |kwámmana go out visiting together. The Mantis involves himself in a quarrel with a young “Dasse” (Hyrax), and stones fall upon him and |kwámmana. The latter, upon whom they lie loosely, is first rescued; while the Mantis owes his rescue to the entreaties of his wife, who prevails upon the people to take him out.–His teasing and troublesome ways are much blamed. (L VIII.–2. 6165–6193, and 6195.) Another version of the story of the Crow Messengers appears, here, in connexion with the adventure related above; |kwámmana and his companion being, in this instance, those who were found by the successful bird (Corvus scapulatus). (L VIII.–2. 6147–6157) By the same narrator was also given the Rescue of |kwámmana and the Mantis, and their return home. The Blue Crane, who is the elder sister of |kaggen, pities his sad condition.–Specimens of the peculiar manner in which the Bushman language is spoken by the wife of |kaggen, and by the Ichneumon, respectively, are here given. (L VIII.–2. 6196–6231, 3. 6232–6236.) A note regarding the ≠kam–!kwê, a member of the party which went to the rescue of /kwámmana and his companion (L VII.-2. 6195 rev. and 6196 rev.). |kwammana and |kaggen (the Mantis) both drink from ostrich egg-shells offered to them, |kwammana by the young bee and |kaggen by the Dassie who passes water into his shell. |kaggen curses the Dassie when he tastes its urine and the mother Dassie makes rocks roll on |kaggen and |kwammana. The people take |kaggen out from under the rocks only because his wife has asked them to.

Comments

1) |kwammana is spelt in various ways throughout the stories in which he appears, 2) p.6167v: a |xam curse referring to another person's 'part' which is 'underneath' or 'behind', 3) p. 6178v: !kaurowo calls |kaggen ||kanndoro,while other people call him |kaggen (the Mantis), 4) pp.6195v & 6196v: ≠kum !kwe who was once a man and lived in |han≠kass'o's country; he was in |kwammana's rescuing party, 5) p.6199v: the other name of the Porcupine, 6) p.6227v: the kochelman (or Agama lizard) sings, 7) p.6232v: (13 February) |xam names for and habits of animals and the doings of the Agama lizard who lies in the Driedoorn tree, including what the people say to it, 8) pp.6233v-6234v: see The !khau lizard and the rainclouds – springbok hunting follows rain and The song of the !khau lizard, 9) p.6235v: |xam names for spiders and their webs, 10) see also The Mantis and the Ticks, 11) This story is found in Books VIII-2 and VIII-3